Rotary snowplow



Mmh 15, 1932. H. R. HOLMES 1,849,296

ROTARY sNowPLw Filed April ll. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mal'Ch 15, 1932. R-HOLMES 1,849,296

ROTARY SNOWPLOW Filed April 11, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 2 J5 55 k57 J6 i3Patented Mal-.15, 1932 UNITED STATES HARLEIQH n. HOLMES, or LITTLETON,ooLoRAno ROTARY sNoWPLoW Application led April 11,

This invention relates to improvements inv snowplows and has' referencemore particularly to an improved rotaryzsnowplow'for use in removingsnow from the highway.

It is of great importancev to the country I that the main .highwaysshould be open to u traffic at all times and in order to maintain thenin open condition during the winter months 1t often becomesnecessary toremove great quantitiesof snow and to cut through heavy drifts. For'thepurpose of removing snow from highways, a large number of differentdevices including machines having rotors have been invented and used.

It is the obj ect of this invention to produce an apparatus that shallbe so constructed that it can be applied to an ordinary truck when i itis to be used and which can readily be removed from the truck during thesummerv much less power to operate it than would be Y required if theusual housing were employed. A still further object of this inventionis, to produce a snow removing mechanism that forced into the snow forthe purpose of directing the snow to the rotor, but which instead ofsuch cutting edges and scoops, shall be provided with a planer cylinderthat lis mounted for-rotation about a horizontal aXis and which islocated directly tothe rear..

of the rotor and operated in such a way that it scrapes the snow and icefrom the pavement and throws it towards the rotor which then carries itout over the sides of the road.

Another object ofV this invention is to produce a machine of the typereferred toin which the rotor and the planer cylinder `can be adjustedsimultaneously towards and away from the road surface and' in which 5vdoes not require any cutting edges to beV bers 6 is an angle iron 8. jThis angle iron is 1931'.` Serial' No. '529,447'.`

they ycan also be adjusted relative, to each other. i' e The above Aandother vobjects that may'appear as this description proceeds are attainedby means of a construction and an arrange-y ment ofgpartsthatwillnow bedescribed in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the inventionl 3 has been illustrated, and in which: j

Fig. l is a side elevation of a truckshowv ing the improved snowremoving apparat-us in place thereon; l 4 l" v Fig. 2 is a top plan viewofthe rear portion ofthe truck, showing the parts to a some- 5 whatlarger scale than in Fig. l; i j

Fig. 3 is a section taken online 3-3, Fig. l;

Fig. l is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5, Fig. 2gandV y Fig. 6 is a viewlooking in the direction'of arrows 6 6, in Fig. 1.` n

ln the drawings the apparatus that forms the subject of this inventionhas been shown as secured to an ordinary truck chassis. The.

, side members of the chassis frame have been designated byreferencenumerall, thefront wheels by reference numeral 2 andthe rearwheels by reference numeral 3. The engine for operating the truck vislocated underneath the enginehood el, but has `not been shown" becauseit forms no part of this inyention. .The 'truclris provided with 'theordinary semi-elliptical springs 5 between the-chassis frame andthea-Xle. Secured, to the truck frame is another frame havingside members 6thaty are located above the members 1 and are secured to the latter bymeans of .bolts 7 Connecting the rear ends of the side memheld in placeby means of angle brackets 9 as shown in Fig.14. Secured tothehori'zontal flange of the angle iron is a bearing 10 in which theshaft ll is rotatably mounted. v

Since the truck to which the apparatus thatforms the subject of thisinvention is applied, is intended to travel in reversefwhen the snowremoving mechanism is in operation, the end of the truck that is usuallyreferred to as ythe rear end willbe referred tofjas the frontend in thisdescription. The rear end of shaft 11 extends into a gear casing 12 thatcontains the reversing gear mechanism. These gears are controlled bymeans of a lever 13. Since the reversing gear can be of any standarddesign, it will not be described in detail, but it is to be understoodthat by means of this gear shafts 11 and lll can be rotated in the samedirection or in opposite directions as may be desired. Shaft 14 isdriven directly by one or more engines 15 and rotatesv in the samedirection at all times. Secured to the forward end of shaft 11 are threerotors A, B and C. The rotors each comprise a circular plate 16 that issecured to `the shaft by means of a pinfl? or some other suitable meansand extending radially from these plates are arms that have an angularYcross section. The arms have been designated by reference numeral 18.;The rotor indicated by letter A is the largest and is preferablyprovided with six varms that yextend radially or substantially` radiallytherefrom; The outer ends-of the arms on rotor A are connected by meansof rods The outer ends'of the blades 18 on 'rotor B are also connectedby means of rods 19 and this is also true with the rotor indicated byletter C. Rotors B and C are each provided with three arms, while rotorA, as above explained, has six arms but the exact number of arms is amatter of choice and is not a material feature of this invention. Theassembly comprising the three rotors forms a blades can be smaller thanwould be required ,for a single rotor. By means of the reversing gear,the rotor assembly can be turned in either direction. Attention iscalled at this pointl to the/fact that the rotor assembly is necessaryfor the reason that when the inachineis cutting its way through asnowdrift,

- the sno'witself, forms a substitute for the casing 'and assoon as theblades reach a point above the snowbank, the snow carried by the bladeswill be thrown outwardly by the centrifugal force, and therefore anenclosing casingor housing has been found to be unnecessary.

lt is evident that if the machine construce'd as above described isdriven into a snow- Vdrift with the rotors operating, it will out acircular opening through the snow; but it is truck, and the latterVwould therefore climbV on the snow and raise the mechanism above thesurfaceof the roadway to such an extent vDiagonal braces t6 areprovided'and cient to give the results desired. In order to clear theroadway to within a given distance of the surface thereof, the machinehas been provided with a planer hea-d that rotates on a shaft 2O whichextends horizontally a short distance above the roadway and between thetruck and the rotor A. The planer head as now constructed consists oftwo angular members 21 that are held in place on the shaft 2O by meansof bolts 22 or other equivalent means. yRemovable blades 23 are securedto members 21. Shaft 2() is journalled in bearings 2e and has one endprovided with a bevelled gear A shaft 26 carries a bevel pinion 27 thatcooperates with the gear 25. Shaft 26 extends diagonally upwards and hasits upperend provided with a pinion 28 that cooperates with anotherpinion 29 that is carried by a shaft 80. 'Shaft 30 has a pinion 31 thatmeshes with av pinion 32 on shaft 33. Jfinions 31 and 32 are locatedwithin-a housing 34: andthe vouter end ofshaft 33 has a sprocket wheel35. A sproclretfchain 36 connects the' sprocket gear 25 with a similarYsprocket wheel 37 on shaft 14. The different "therefore move in thevdirection in which the mechanism is travelling and will throw the snowand ice forwardly into the path ofthe rotor A which will carry the sameout and throw it to the side of the road. rlhe planer head is mounted ina frame that comprises two vertical angle irons 38that are Veach proidedwith a slot 39 through which a bolt l0 extends. The'upper ends oftheangle irons are provided with an out-turned portion llto which the lowervend of a screw 42 is connected. rlhis screw passes through a threadedopening inl a bracket liiand whenthe screw isV turned in eitherdirection, the angle iron that is connected .with it will be moved inacorresponding direction. rlhe two screws 42 must lbe rotatedsubstantially simultaneously, and may, if desired, be interconnected bymeans of a sprocket chain which has not been shown. .Carried by theanglesv 38 is a plate 44 whose lower end is curved forwardly anddownwardly and terminates at L5 whichiis substantially on the level withthe. shaft 20. y n these support the back wallof the housing in whichthe planer head rotates. rhis rear wall consists of a plate A7 to theupper and lower edges of which angles and i9 are respectively connected.Push .rods 50. extend from the ends of the axle 5l Yto lugs or ears 52carried by the rear wall vof the housing in the manner shown in Figs. 1and The push rods'hold'tjhe Yframe in :position during the operation ofthe machine. Byrturning the screws 42v the planer *head can kbe adjustedwith respect to the road without altering the adjustment of the rotors.Y

For the purpose of simultaneously adjust` lingV the rotors and theplaner head with respect'to the roadway, means has been provided forcompressing thesprings 5 so as to move Located within'the cylinder is apiston 55 and a piston rod 56 extends from thev piston `through thecylinder head 57 andis secured to its upper end to across head 58;` Rods59 extend downwardly: from the .ends of the cross head 58 andareconnected with the plate 60 on top of the spring. A hydraulic pump 6l`is provided for pumping oil into the cylinder below the piston. As thepiston moves upwardly, the chassis frame will move `downwardly due tothe fiexure of the spring.

One hydraulic cylinder is provided onV each side of the chassis frameand both ofthem are connected to the pump by means of pipes and 63. Thespace above the piston can be utilized lfor storing the oil.v

Located in front of each of the wheels 3 is an inclined blade 64 thatserves to scrape the snow outwardly in front of the wheels and therebyprevent the wheels from lclimbing as they would otherwise do. n

The machine above described is operated. by moving `it in the directionin which the propeller or rotor is pointing and the latter willtherefore be forced againstthe snowdrifts and the several sections ofthe rotor will. cut the snow and throw the same to the side of theroadway. As the machine moves forwardly the rotating planer head cutsthe snow and ice adjacent the road surface and piles the same into aposition where the lower ends of the blades Aon rotor A can catch themand remove them from the roadway. Any loose snow or iceis removed bymeans of the blades 64 and the wheels 3 therefore remain certaindistance ,from the surface of the roadway lregardless of the thicknessof the .snowdrifts and after the machine has passed over the road theVsnow and ice will be removed to a given depth over the whole width ofthe roadway.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the rotors are notenclosed and that the construction is therefore much cheaper and simplerthan if a housing were employed. Another feature of the constructionthat is of great importance is that the planer head y employedifor otherpurposes,,andindthis lway the investment yis much smaller than where thesnow removing mechanism lsfso constructed that` it forms ,part ofthetruck for in the latter case the truckcanbeusled for no other purposeand the eutirelinvestment is therefore left -idleexcept for the few ldays in winter when it is neededa Having described the claimed as newis:

Hf .1. snowplow comprising, in combina tion, a truck, means forpropellingrthe same,

a rotor. carried by the forwardendof, the

inventiony what A iis' truck and mounted for rotation' about an i axisparallelwith the v`direction ,of .travel and a planer headmountedforrotationabout a ltransverse axis, said head lying between the rotorand the ,'truckand directly above the roadbed andmeans for turning thehead so that its lower part Ytravels forwardly, the

head having a pluralityof planer blades. 2. A snowplow comprising, jincombination, a truck, means for propelling the same,

a rotor carried by the forward end 'ofthe`4rr` truck and mounted forrotation about an axis parallel with the'direction oftravel, 'a planerhead mounted for rotation about a transverse axis, said head lyingbetween the rotor and the truck and directly above thefroadbed,

means for turning the head so that its lower parttravels forwardly, the:head having av plurality of planer. blades and means for adjusting theplaner head withv respect to the road surface.` y y 3. A snowplowcomprising', in` combination, a truck, means for propelling' the same, arotor carried by the forward endpof `the truck and'mounted for rotationabout an aXis parallel with the direction oftraveha planer head mountedfor rotation about a` transverse axis, said head 'lying between the`rotor and the `truck and directly above the roadbed, means for turningthe head so that its lower part travels forwardlyMthe head having apluralityv of planer blades; and

means for simultaneously adjusting lthe c pla-ner head and the rotortowards and away from the road surface. Y

4. A snowplow comprising, combina- 1 i tion, a truck, means `forpropelling the same, a rotor carried'by .the forward end kof the truckand mounted for rotation about anaXis y parallel with the direction oftravel, a planer plurality of .planer blades, meansV for ad-V justingthe planer head with respectto the road surface andmeans forsimultaneously adjusting the planer head and the `rotor towards and awayfrom the road surface.

AnY apparatus for removing'snow from a roadway comprising, incombination, a self- 4 'roadway comprising, lpropelled truck, a rotorycarried by the truck stantially radial blades Whose 'lengt-h issomewhat less than the distance from the axis of rotation to the surfaceof the roadway, means i for turning the rotor, means comprising a'planer head provided with blades for removing snow from thetop of theroadway,

.said planer head being located between the rotor land the truck andmeans for turning. the planer head so that the lower part there- Vofrotates in the direction ofvtravel.

6.y An apparatus for removing snow from a in combination, a selfandmounted for rotation about anaXis that extends in the direction in'which the truck travels, the rotor having a plurality of substantiallyradial blades whose length is somewhat less than the distance from theaxis of rotation. to the surface of the roadway, means for turning therotor, a planer head carried by the truck at a point directly to therear of the rotor, said head having a plurality of planer blades andmounted for rotation about an aXis substantially perpendicular to the'direction of travel and located a short distance above the roadway andmeans for turning the planer head in such a direction that the undersidemoves in the direction of travel.

'7. An apparatus for removing snow from a roadway comprising, incombination, a selfpropelled trunk, a rotor carriedr by the truck andmounted for rotation about an axis that yextends in the direction inwhich the truck travels. the rotor having a plurality of substantiallyradial blades whose length is somewhat less than the'distance from theaxis of rotation to the surface of the roadway, means for turningtherotor, a planer head carried by the truck at a point directly to therear of the rotor, said head having a plurality of planer blades andmounted for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to thedirection of travel and located' a short distance above the roadway,means for turning the planer head in such a direction that the undersidemoves in the direction of travel and means for adjusting the position ofthe planer with respect to the surface of the roadway.

8. An apparatus for removing snow from a roadwaycomprising, incombination, a selfpropelled truck, a rotor carried by the truck andmounted for rotation about an aXis that extends in the direction inwhich the truck Y travels, the rotor having a plurality ofsubstantiallyradial blades whose length is somewhat less than thedistance from the aXis of rotation to the surface of the roadway, meansfor turning the rotor, a planer head carried by the truck at a pointdirectly to the rear of the rotor, said head having a plurality ofplaner blades, and mounted for` vrotation rparallelwith the direction ofmotion, meansV about an. axis substantially perpendicularto lthedirection of travel'and located'a short the underside moves in vthedirection of travel, means for adjusting the positionof Vthe planer headWithrespect to the surface of the roadway and means for simultaneouslyadjusting the rotorv and the planer head with respect to the roadwaysurface.

'9; A device for removing snow from a roadway comprising,A incombination, a `self. propelled truck, a motor carried by the truck, ashaft mounted for yrotation about an axis for rotating the shaft bypower derived from the motor, a plurality of separaterotors secured tothe shaft in front ofthe truck, the

rotor nearest the truck being larger than the others and the rotorrfarthest from .the'truck sembly is produced, each rotor having aplurality of radial blades, a planer head carried by the truck, saidcylinder being located'between the rotor and the truclr and mounted..

-8,5 being the smallest whereby a conical rotor astating the planer headin such a directionthat the lower part thereof moves in the direction,.95

of travel.

HLA device for removing snow from a roadway comprising, inn combination,a selfl propelled truclna motor carriedby the truck, a shaft mounted forrotation about an'aiiis. parallel with the direction of motion, meansfor rotating Vthe shaftby power derived from the motor, a pluralityr ofseparater rotors secured to the shaft in front of the truck, the

rotor nearest the truck being larger than the others and the rotorfarthest from the truck being the smallest whereby a conical rotor.assembly isV produced, each rotor having a plurality of radial blades, aplaner head carried by the truck, said head being located between, .i

planer. head'in sucha direction that the lower part thereof moves in thedirection of travel and means for adjusting the position of the rotorand the planer head with respect to the roadway. l i I I l In testimonywhereof I aifix my signature..

HARIVJEIGHk R.

